HIM (FIN)

HIM was a Finnish rock band from Helsinki fronted by singer Ville Valo, whose deep baritone and the band’s signature «heartagram» symbol became instantly recognisable emblems of their sound. Formed in the early 1990s and later solidified with guitarist Linde Lindström, the band coined the term «love metal» to describe their fusion of gothic rock atmosphere, doom-influenced guitar work and hook-laden pop melodies, a blend that set them apart from both mainstream rock and heavier metal scenes.

HIM became one of the most successful bands to emerge from Finland internationally, building a devoted fanbase across Europe and beyond with albums and singles such as «Join Me in Death», «Right Here in My Arms» and their much-loved cover of «Wicked Game». Their music balanced melancholic, romantic lyricism with accessible songwriting, helping bring gothic-tinged rock to a broader pop audience without losing its darker atmospheric core.

Over roughly two decades of activity, HIM released a string of albums, toured extensively worldwide and became a defining act of Finland’s rock export wave. Valo’s distinctive voice and the band’s consistent visual and sonic identity around the heartagram made them one of the most instantly identifiable rock bands of their era before disbanding in the mid-2010s.